Traders Buy Large Volume of Community Health Systems Call Options (NYSE:CYH)

Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CYH) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Wednesday. Traders acquired 11,874 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 447% compared to the typical volume of 2,170 call options.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Community Health Systems

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Community Health Systems in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Red Door Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Community Health Systems during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Community Health Systems in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Eagle Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Community Health Systems in the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Convergence Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Community Health Systems in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.99% of the company’s stock.

Community Health Systems Price Performance

Community Health Systems stock opened at $3.03 on Thursday. Community Health Systems has a 12 month low of $2.01 and a 12 month high of $6.53. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $421.11 million, a PE ratio of -2.94 and a beta of 1.52.

Community Health Systems (NYSE:CYH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The company reported ($0.41) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.03 by ($0.44). Community Health Systems had a negative return on equity of 5.51% and a negative net margin of 1.07%. The company had revenue of $3.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.16 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.50 EPS. Community Health Systems’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Community Health Systems will post -0.45 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays assumed coverage on Community Health Systems in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $3.00 price target on the stock. Oppenheimer cut their price target on Community Health Systems from $6.50 to $5.50 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com raised Community Health Systems from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $4.20.

About Community Health Systems

Community Health Systems, Inc owns, leases, and operates general acute care hospitals in the United States. It offers general acute care, emergency room, general and specialty surgery, critical care, internal medicine, obstetrics, diagnostic, psychiatric, and rehabilitation services, as well as skilled nursing and home care services.